Game board and playing pieces



June 19, 1956 G. ROJO GAME BOARD AND PLAYING PIECES Filed Jan. 24, 1955 Inventor Guac/a/upe lll-lllllflll III-Ill"! Ill IllII Rojo 5 }/%W a.

United States Patent GAME BOARD AND PLAYING PIECES Guadalupe Rojo, North Chicago, Ill. Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,506 3 Claims. (Cl, 273-131) The invention relates to a ticularly to a game board.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein it is designed for amusement purposes and may be played by old or young, affording great interest and the element of chance, as well as skill for the winning of a game when played thereby.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein a game when played results in giving thrills and entertainment to the players taking part for the winning of the game.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, which in its construction is simple, thoroughly reliable and efficient as a medium for the playing of games, neat and attractive in appearance, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a planned view of the game board illustrating one form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a game board illustrating the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of three of pieces.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view partially in elevation showing an arrangement of the playing pieces on one form of the game board.

Referring to the drawing, the game board comprises a fiat base 10, preferably made of fibrous material, although it may be made from any other suitable material, such as plywood, plastic, or the like. The base preferably is of equilateral or square form, but this form may be varied if the occasion arises. The base 10 is preferably provided with 26 playing stations symmetrically arranged in groups of three stations which are connected with indicia showing the proper grouping of the three stations. Eighteen of the playing stations which may consist of a distinctive circular indicia, a short vertically extending post, or any convenient means of designating a playing piece position are arranged at spaced intervals about the circumference of three concentric circles. Six stations are arranged on each of the said circles in two symmetrically disposed groups of three playing stations with a station at each end of two equal arcs and with a station equidistant between the ends of each of the arcs. On the circumference of the outer circle are arranged stations 11a, 11b, and 11c, connected as a group by are 11, and stations .ll'a, 11b, and 11'c, connected as a group by are 11'. Similarly arranged on the intermediate concentric circle are stations 12a, 12b, and 12c, and stations 12'0, 12'1), and 12c, each being onnected as a group by arcs 12 and 12' respectively. And, on the circumference on the inner concentric circle are similarly arranged stations 13a, 13b, and 13c, with arc l3 connecting the said stations as a group, and stations 13a, 1372, and 13c, with are 13 connecting the latter as a group of three stations. The terminal stations at each end of the said arcs of the concentric circles are game device, and more parthe playing connected by a straight line. Thus, stations 11a, 12a, and 13a are connected with a straight line indicating a proper group of three stations. In a similar manner, stations ll'a, 12'a, and 13'a, stations 11c, 12c, and 130, and stations 11'c, 12'c, and 13'c are connected by straight lines indicating proper groups of three playing stations. In a similar manner, stations 11b, 12b, and 13b, and stations llb, 127), and 13'b, disposed intermediate ends of the said arcs of the concentric circles, are also connected by straight lines to indicate two additional groups of three playing stations.

Between the playing stations at the ends of the said arcs of the concentric circles, there are arranged six additional playing stations, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, and 22, each spaced radially inwardly of the adjacent terminal stations and on a common diameter line bisecting each of the concentric circles. The stations 14, 15, and 16, are connected with the adjacent terminal stations by curved lines 17, 18, and 19, respectively, and with each other by straight lines. Similarly, stations 20, 21, and 22 are connected with the adjacent stations by curved lines 23, 24, and 25, respectively, and with each other by straight lines. Each of said curved and straight lines designate an additional group of three playing stations. Two additional stations, 26 and 28, are also disposed intermediate the ends of the terminal stations on the arcs 13 and 13' and are spaced radially inwardly therefrom on a diameter line preferably perpendicular to the diameter line on which stations 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, and 22 are arranged; Station 26 is connected with stations 13a and by line 27, and station 28 is connected with stations 13a and 13's by line 29. Lines 27 and 29, respectively, designate two additional groups of playing stations.

In Figure 2 of the drawing is shown a sectional view of the game board 31 in which the playing stations are shown in the form of vertically extending pegs, 32 through 36, which correspond to stations 11b, 12b, 13b, 26, and 28; respectively. Pegs 32 through 36 are adapted to receive apertured playing pieces similar to pieces 37, 38, and 39, said pegs being of a height slightly greater than the thickness of three of the said playing pieces so that three playing pieces can be disposed in superimposed relationship about the said pegs, as shown in greater detail in Figure 4 of the drawing.

The game board is preferably provided with means for recording the cumulative score of the several players and is, therefore, preferably provided with scoring means 41 shown in greater detail in Figure 1A; The scoring means 41 comprises a series of small diameter holes 40 adapted to receive a scoring marker and each of which has a num; ber associated therewith which is a multiple of the scoring unit used in the game. Spaced inwardly of holes 40 are a second series of holes 42 which have a series of numbers associated therewith which represent multiples of the highest number of holes to enable the players to. con veniently keep track of the scores. The game board is also provided, if desired, with one or more decorative blocks 30 so marked to indicate these superimposed playing pieces and 1, 2, and 3 combinations.

The game shown is designed to be played by two, three, or four players with 64 playing pieces divided between the said players. It is the object of the game for each player to arrange three playing pieces in' groupsof threes vertically on one of the playing stations or horizontally in one of the designated groups of three stations, said horizontal groups being arrangedat a level. of one, two,- or three of the playing pieces. When a proper combination of three playing pieces is made by one of the players, he may either take one or more playing pieces from his opponent or receive a pro-arranged number of points depending on the particular combination made. The suggested valuations for the several combinations are as follows:

To play the game, the first player starts by placing one playing piece in position on any of the designated playing stations; the second player then places one of his playing pieces, having a different color from the playing piece of the first player, on any of the remaining playing stations, and so on alternately until all the playing pieces of each player are on the board. After all the playing pieces have been placed on the board, the action of the game proceeds with alternate moves by each of the players with the object of getting any of the said combinations of three in a horizontal row or three vertically. Moves are made only along the lines connecting the several stations and only to the station next adjacent to the one occupied by the playing piece being moved. No jumping or diagonal moves are permitted. Also, while playing pieces can be moved along any designated line to an adjacent station, no valid horizontal combination is permitted if the stations are not connected by one of the indicated curved or straight lines. Thus, for example, it is not possible to have a valid horizontal combination by stations 13b, 13c, and 26; or stations 22, 13c, and 28; or stations 11b, 11a, and 12a. To illustrate how the several combinations are made, let us presurne that the first player places one of his playing pieces on station 13c, and a second player placed one of his playing pieces on station 110. The first player then places a playing piece on station 13a, and the second player places a playing piece on station 13b to prevent the first player from making a horizontal combination comprising stations 13a, 13b, and 130. The first player then places a playing piece on station 26 and has thus made a horizontal combination on the 1 level which consists of stations 13a, 26, and 130. The second player then places a playing piece on station 11b, and the first player places a playing piece on station 11a to prevent the second player from making a horizontal combination with stations 11a, 11b, and 110. The second player then places a playing piece on station 12b and has thus made a horizontal combination consisting of stations 11b, 12b, and 13b. The first player then places a playing piece on station 13a on top of his playing piece previously placed on said station. The second player places a playing piece on station 11a. The first player places a piece on station 26 on top of his piece already on station 26. The second player then places a piece on station 110. The first player then places a piece on station 13c and makes a combination with the stations 13a, 13b, and 13c on the 2 level. The second player then places a piece on the station 110 and forms a vertical combination of three playing pieces on the station 110. The first player then places a piece on station 130 and thus forms a vertical combination on said station of 13c. The second player places a piece on station 11b, and the first player places a playing piece on station 1317. The second player places a piece on station 11a. The first player places a piece on station 131), and the second player places a piece on station 11b and forms a double combination consisting of a vertical combination on station 11b and also a horizontal combination on stations 11a, 11b, and 110 at the 3 level.

After all the playing pieces have been placed on the board and the play continues by each player alternately moving the playing pieces already placed on the board, certain combinations and moves are preferably considered valid and others invalid for scoring purposes. For example, when the first player has two playing pieces superimposed on station 11c and has one playing piece on station 11b and the first player moves the playing piece from station 11b to 11c, a vertical combination is made on station 11c but for scoring purposes the first player is not given points for such a vertical combination because the playing piece was moved from the 1 level of one playing piece to the 3 level of three playing pieces. If the first player had two playing pieces superimposed on station 11b and moved one playing piece from station 11b to station 11c, the vertical combination formed on station 11c would be considered valid and the first player would receive points for said vertical combination. It should also be noted that if an opponents playing piece is superimposed on ones own playing piece and it is desired to move ones own playing piece to another station, that the opponents playingpiece must also be moved to thesaid adjacent station with the opponents playing piece remaining superimposed on ones own playing piece.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service, by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed or equivalents thereof. As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of my invention, I desire to claim the following subject matter.

I claim:

1. A game board and game playing pieces comprising a playing surface having a plurality of indicia each serving to identify a game piece playing position and suitable for receiving a game playing piece thereon; said indicia arranged in groups of three and being connected by a line forming an arc of one of at least three concentrically arranged circles with each of the terminal indicia of each said group of three indicia being connected with the laterally adjacent terminal indicia of another said group by a curved line having a game playing piece indicia intermediate the ends thereof, and each said terminal indicia also being connected to its immediately radially adjacent terminal indicia by a straight line, and each of said indicia adapted to receive game playing pieces in superimposed contacting position thereon.

2. A game board and game playing pieces comprising a playing surface having a plurality of pegs extending perpendicularly from the playing surface of the game board, each of said pegs serving to identify a game piece playing position adapted to receive a game playing piece thereon; said pegs arranged in groups of three and being connected by a line forming an arc of one of at least three concentrically arranged circles with each of the terminal pegs in each group of three pegs being connected with the laterally adjacent terminal peg of another said group by a curved line having another peg disposed intermediate the end thereof, and each said terminal peg also being connected to its immediately radially spaced terminal peg by a straight line, and each of said pegs adapted to receive thereon three game playing pieces in superimposed contacting position, said pieces being apertured to fit over the end of said peg. 3. A game board and game playing pieces as in claim 2 wherein each said group of three pegs are arranged in symmetrically oppositely disposed paired relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

